Key-lock.



' PATENTED FEB, 13, 1906.

A. N. MASSIE. KEY LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAILB, 1905 tion.

IINITED sTATEs PATENT @FFIQE KEY-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1906.

Application filed March 8. 1905. Serial No. 249,126.

1'0 all whom, it may concern.

Beit known that I,ALFRED N. MASSIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Belleville, in the county of St. Clair and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Key-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved nutlock, and particularly to a key-lock for securely retaining the locking members in an operative position; and the object of the invention is to provide an arrangement capable of easy application and removal without injury to the nut, bolt, or any of the parts constituting the lock; and another object is to provide an arrangement capable of application to bolts and nuts upon various kinds of machinery and ironwork, where it is often necessary to unlock the nut for the purpose of tightening or entirely removing the same.

WVith these briefly-stated objects in view the invention comprises certain details of construction and peculiar combination and arrangement of parts, as will be fully described in the following specification and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my invention applied for locking the fishplates of a rail-joint. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a section drawn on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, the bolt being shown in'elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the locking member, and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the key for holding the locking member in its operative position.

In the practical application of my invention I employ a bolt A and a slot A in its threaded end and which preferably extends throughout the entire length of the threads, so that the nut may be locked thereon at any position upon the bolt, and operating upon the bolt is a nut B of the usual shape and construction. Within the slot A, I arrange a locking member C, which is of a width to snugly fit the slot and whose upper surface is corrugated or toothed, as at C, which are shaped to fit the threads of the nut. One end of the locking member is of a greater height than the body portion to provide a head 0 the forward face of which engages the nut B when arranged in a locking posi- In the construction shown in the drawings the face of the head which engages the nut is beveled outwardly; but I desire it understood that the face may extend vertically from the teeth to provide a broader contacting surface; but the construction shown is preferable for the reason that it is easierfitted in position. The opposite end of the locking member and upon the opposite side from which the head extends is beveled, as at C for a purpose as will be explained later.

In practice the body of the locking member is made of a less height than the depth of the groove in the bolt A, so that it may be easily inserted within the slot after the nut has been tightened upon the bolts, and in order to hold the toothed surface of the locking member in engagement with the threads of the nut I employ a split key D, which is constructed of a single piece of spring metal that is bent nearly centrally of itself to form an eye D, from which extend in substantially parallel position the ends, and one end of the key projects slightly beyond the other end and terminates at an angle to the body portion, as shown at D and this end is designed to engage the bevel end of the locking member to prevent its accidental displacement after the parts have been assembled, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

In applying my lock to a bolt and nut the nut is screwed upon'the bolt to the proper position, after which the locking member is inserted in the groove and positioned so that the face of the nut will engage the bevel face of the locking member. After this has been done the split key is inserted under the locking member and driven into the slot until the angle portion D will extend past the inner edge of the locking member,when the operation is complete and the nut securely locked in position, and as the bolt is non-revoluble any tendency of the nut to turn thereon will be prevented by reason of its coming in contact with the locln'ng member,which prevents its forward movement upon the bolt, and consequently holds it tightly in position. It will be understood that by providing the end of the key with an eye the latter will be prevented from being driven in past the outer end of the locking member, and by reference to Fig.2 of the drawings it will be seen that the length of the key between the eye and bevel end is substantially the same as the length of the locking member. Now should it be desired to remove the locking member for the purpose of either removing the nut or tightening the same upon the bolt the key is withdrawn, which will permit the locking member to drop down into the slot and be entirely withdrawn, and after the nut has been r'eplaced it will be readily understood the locking member and key may be readily replaced.

It will thus be seen that I provide an ear-"- ceedingly ch'eap simple, and highly "eflioient l device capable of meeting all the require-;. ments mentioned, and particular attention is invited to the fact that the bolt or nut is not injured in the slightest bythe application of my invention, and, further, that by providingthe end of thekey with an an le portion which en ages a bevel end of t e locking member t elatter may be'readil y withdrawn by forcibly pulling up on the key, ibut the angle portion is of sufficient rigidity .toprevent' accidental displacement, but 'no't sufliciently strong {to prevent its removal when the key ispulled outwardly.

v While I have shown ,my invention as ap- ,plied to a bolt andnut'forlocking themeeting ends of the-sections of :a'r'ailroad-rail, I do not wish to be limited to this use, as it may be used with equal effectiveness upon -machines :andanyother place that is manifestly obvious. I g l I Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim-as new, and de'sire'to secure'by LettersPatent,is x

1. In a nut-lock the-combination with a bolt having a slot in the threaded end t'hereof, anda nut operating upon the bolt, of a locking member arranged within the slot and engaging the nut, and a split key'hav in'g an angle portion that engages the inner end of the locking member.

Q In a nut lock, the combina'tion'with a bolt having a slot in its threaded end, and'a nut operating thereon, of a locking member arranged within *t'he-slot and having one face corrugated to fit the threads of the nut, said gagement with the nut, said key having one end that engages the inner end of the locking member, for thepurpose specified.

- 3. In a nut-lock, the combination with a bolt having -a slot in its threaded end, and a nut operating upon said end, of a flocking member adapted to be arranged within the slot and having-acorrugated surface tofit the threads of the nut, one end ofthe said locking member having a head, and itsopposit'e end beveled, and a split key having one end extending past its opposite end, and at an angle to thebocly portion for engagement with the bevel end of the locking member, for the purpose specified. v 4. In a nut-'loclg'the combination with a bdlt having a slotin the threadediend thereoff and a nut operating upon the bolt, of a locking m'emb'er "arranged within'the slot and engaging the bolt, and a split key having an angle por'tion at one'end that engages the inner end'of the loclfing membenand an eye at its opposite end't'hat engagesthe outeriend of the said locking member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name-to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED vN. MASSI'E.

Witnesses: v

JOHN MAs'sm, ERNEsT 'HILGAR'D.

looking member having a head at one end which engages the face of the nut, and a-split key which holds the locking member :intoen- 

